Vegetables are important in the hedgehog’s daily diet. Not only do vegetables taste great, but it also comes packaged with minerals, vitamins, macro-, and micronutrients—all beneficial for your hedgehog’s wellbeing.
However, some vegetables are more nutritious than others and some vegetables are even toxic to hedgehogs. I will give a list of 50+ vegetables romainehow they will benefit or harm your hedgehog.
Some vegetable hedgehogs can eat are; asparagus, bell peppers, broccoli, kale, beans, cucumber, edamame, and spinach.
Some of the vegetables that hedgehogs can’t eat are; avocados, celery, garlic, grapes, tomatoes, onions, potatoes, and pumpkin.
List of vegetables & whether hedgehogs can eat them or not
| Vegetable | Can hedgehogs eat? |
| Asparagus | Yes |
| Avocados | No |
| Bell peppers | Yes |
| Broccoli | Yes |
| Carrots | No |
| Celery | No |
| Cucumber | Yes |
| Dried edamame | Yes |
| Dried green beans | Yes |
| Dried green peppers | Yes |
| Dried kale | Yes |
| Dried kidney beans | Yes |
| Dried lettuce | Yes |
| Dried raw carrots | No |
| Dried red peppers | Yes |
| Dried romaine lettuce | Yes |
| Dried tomatoes | No |
| Dried vegetables | Yes |
| Dried vegetable plants | Yes |
| Dried veggies | Yes |
| Dried yellow peppers | Yes |
| Dried zucchini | Yes |
| Edamame | Yes |
| Green beans | Yes |
| Green peppers | Yes |
| Guava | Yes |
| Iceberg lettuce | Yes |
| Kale | Yes |
| Kidney beans | Yes |
| Lettuce | Yes |
| Mushrooms | Yes |
| Onions | No |
| Peppers | Yes |
| Potatoes | No |
| Pumpkin | No |
| Quinoa | Yes |
| Raw broccoli | Yes |
| Raw cabbage | Yes |
| Raw carrots | No |
| Raw grapes | No |
| Red peppers | Yes |
| Romaine lettuce | Yes |
| Salad | Yes |
| Spinach | Yes |
| Sweet potato | No |
| Tomatoes | No |
| Turnips | Yes |
| Vegetable plants | Yes |
| Vegetables | Yes |
| Vegetarian | No |
| Veggies | Yes |
| Yellow peppers | Yes |
| Zucchini | Yes |
Can hedgehogs eat asparagus?
Hedgehogs love to eat asparagus. Asparagus is easy to chew, tastes great, and has a lot of calcium which is really important for hedgehogs. Usually, their diet consists of phosphorus-rich food, which hinders the uptake of Calcium. Make sure to cut the asparagus into smaller pieces before serving.
Can hedgehogs eat avocados?
You should NEVER feed avocados to a hedgehog. While avocados are super delicious and healthy for humans, they are toxic to hedgehogs. Not only are they toxic, but they also are high in fats. Hedgehogs develop obesity very easily and should be restrictive with their fat intake. Never feed avocados to hedgehogs!
Can hedgehogs eat bell peppers?
Hedgehogs love to eat bell peppers in any shape and color. My hedgehogs in my garden love red bell peppers the most. If you can remove the skin of the bell peppers, it does help them digest it easier. Make also sure to cut it into small pieces so they can eat it without choking. Please don’t feed them the seeds within or the hat of the pepper.
Can hedgehogs eat broccoli?
Broccoli is an excellent treat for hedgehogs. Not only does it provide them with healthy vitamins and minerals. It also gives them a good amount of protein. Protein makes the hedgehog feel full longer. You will need to cut up the broccoli into smaller pieces so it doesn’t increase the choking hazard. It would help if the broccoli boiled, but raw is fine, as long as you cut it into smaller pieces before serving.
Can hedgehogs eat carrots?
Hedgehogs shouldn’t eat carrots. Although it’s rich in Vitamin C and helps the hedgehog to great health, there’s a lot of starch in carrots. Starch is found in potatoes, carrots, pasta, rice, bread, and cereals. Starch is great for the human digestive system, but since the enzymes in hedgehogs and humans differ, I wouldn’t recommend feeding hedgehogs with carrots.
Can hedgehogs eat celery?
Celery shouldn’t be served to hedgehogs. Celery doesn’t give provide the hedgehogs what they need. Celery is high in potassium and sodium. Hedgehogs need Calcium and protein. The high amount of sodium dehydrates them and may cause kidney problems. Avoid serving celery to hedgehogs. Celery is also high in starch which isn’t good for hedgehogs.
Can hedgehogs eat cucumber?
Hedgehogs love to eat cucumbers. Cucumber provides the hedgehogs with hydration which helps them during the warmer months. Cucumber also has some beneficial vitamins. Make sure to cut the cucumber into tiny pieces before serving. If you have the time, you can also peel the skin of the cucumber before serving. This will help the digestion process.
Can hedgehogs eat dried edamame?
Edamame is green soybeans. Soy has a good amount of Calcium and Protein. Two things that are very important to the hedgehog. It keeps them full for longer and holds a ton of vitamins. Hedgehogs can, without a doubt, eat edamame beans.
Can hedgehogs eat dried green beans?
Hedgehogs can eat dried green beans, although they prefer them cooked. When you cook vegetables, you remove some of the starch. Starch doesn’t benefit the hedgehog and gives them a small ache in their belly. You can serve the hedgehog dried green beans, but please defrost them first if they are frozen.
Can hedgehogs eat dried green peppers?
Hedgehogs can eat dried green peppers. If you have cooked them and let them to dry, the starch found in them should almost be gone. The size of them are good and easy for the hedgehogs to eat.
Can hedgehogs eat dried kale?
Dried kale makes an excellent thing for hedgehogs to eat. If you are to serve the hedgehog some dried kale, you will need to cut it into smaller pieces. Kale is usually quite stiff and, is even stiffer when dried. Kale holds a ton of vitamins and minerals and will help your hedgehogs to stay healthy and happy.
Can hedgehogs eat dried kidney beans?
Hedgehogs can eat dried kidney beans, but they will much more like it if they were cooked. Chewing hard dry beans can be hard for the hedgehogs and giving them a hard time digesting it. It would help them with both eating and digestion if you cooked the beans first.
Can hedgehogs eat dried lettuce?
Hedgehogs can eat dried lettuce. Lettuce doesn’t have many calories and vitamins. Dried lettuce can be served as a side food for them next to their regular food. Make sure to cut it up into smaller pieces before serving.
Can hedgehogs eat dried raw carrots?
Hedgehogs shouldn’t eat raw or cooked carrots. Carrots contain a high amount of starch which isn’t good for their digestive system.
Can hedgehogs eat dried red peppers?
Hedgehogs can eat dried red peppers. However, they must be served in smaller pieces. If you can peel the skin off before serving, it would also help them digest it. Not only do hedgehogs like dried red peppers, but they also like green and yellow as well as long as they are chopped into tiny pieces.
Can hedgehogs eat dried romaine lettuce?
Hedgehogs can eat dried romaine lettuce. This is because it has a good amount of Calcium which is especially good for hedgehogs. However, it doesn’t come with many calories, so you must feed the hedgehog more than dried Romain lettuce.
Can hedgehogs eat dried tomatoes?
It would be best if you didn’t offer your hedgehog any dried tomatoes. Fresh and dried tomatoes are acidic and may cause problems with the hedgehog’s digestive system. It’s quite typical among humans, but since the hedgehog’s digestive system is more sensitive, you should avoid it.
Can hedgehogs eat dried vegetables?
Vegetables, in general, are suitable for hedgehogs. However, there are some to avoid. While tomatoes are acidic and harm the hedgehogs, others provide the hedgehog with a good amount of Calcium and other essential minerals. Therefore, you will need to check every single vegetable separately before offering them to your hedgehog.
Can hedgehogs eat dried vegetable plants?
Hedgehogs can eat most dried vegetable plants. However, some may be toxic to them. You will need to check the plant separately since it can vary. For example, Aloe vera plants are toxic to hedgehogs, while Forget me not.
Can hedgehogs eat dried veggies?
Generally, dried veggies are good for hedgehogs. However, some vegetables aren’t so good for them, like tomatoes. Tomatoes are acidic and upset the hedgehog’s stomach.
Can hedgehogs eat dried yellow peppers?
Hedgehogs can eat any color or shape of pepper. They love them all as much. You will have to cut them into tiny pieces so they are easy to digest and chew. The skin of a bell peppers is quite hard to bite through. If you can, please remove the skin of the pepper first.
Can hedgehogs eat dried zucchini?
Hedgehogs can eat dried zucchini. The zucchini can be quite hard for the hedgehog to eat, so it would help if it were cooked. If you plan to serve the hedgehog dried zucchini, the best thing you could do is to peel it first. Cut it into three pieces, and then shred them with a grater. The tiny zucchini noodles will be great for the hedgehogs to eat.
Can hedgehogs eat edamame?
Hedgehogs can and love to eat edamame beans. This is because edamame or soybeans provide them with a good amount of protein and minerals. However, it would help if the edamame beans were cooked first to chew and digest.
Can hedgehogs eat green beans?
Hedgehogs can eat green beans, but they need to be served in smaller sizes. Green beans usually come in long pods. A good thumb rule would be to cut them into half an inch max. However, ‘hedgehogs mouths aren’t that big, so you would help them tremendously if you cook and cut them first.
Can hedgehogs eat green peppers?
Hedgehogs can and love to eat green peppers. However, they also like to eat red as well as yellow peppers. They need the peppers to be cut into smaller pieces first. Try not to serve them bigger as a nail on a pinky finger. Before you start to cut, it would also help them if you peeled the skin. The skin of the pepper doesn’t digest well and is hard for the hedgehog to chew through.
Can hedgehogs eat guava?
Hedgehogs can eat guava. Guava is alkaline and not acidic, which is good for them. However, guava has a preferred taste and doesn’t suit everyone’s taste buds. Try in tiny amounts first. Sadly, I haven’t met any hedgehog who has liked guava.
Can hedgehogs eat iceberg lettuce?
Hedgehogs can eat both romaine lettuce as well as iceberg lettuce. However, iceberg lettuce usually isn’t recommended since it mostly contains water and no proper vitamins or minerals. It fills their bellies up without contributing valid nutrients. When eating too high an amount of something containing the risk of diarrhea increases.
Can hedgehogs eat kale?
Hedgehogs can eat kale. Kale is high in nutrients and provides the hedgehogs with a lot of vitamins and minerals for a small number of calories. However, you will need to cut the kale into smaller pieces before serving. Kale is normally pretty stiff and needs to be cut into bite size pieces. Kale is high in Calcium which is important for hedgehogs.
Can hedgehogs eat kidney beans?
Hedgehogs can eat kidney beans. You will need to cook them first so they are almost mushy. Uncooked kidney beans is too hard for hedgehogs to eat. Their tiny mouth can’t hold a whole bean and would be a choking hazard. The digestion of the uncooked bean would also take longer. Cook and chop them into smaller pieces first is my recommendation.
Can hedgehogs eat lettuce?
Hedgehogs can eat lettuce. Lettuce has got a bad reputation lately due to the small number of calories in lettuce. While a low amount of calories usually is strived for among humans, hedgehogs need a good amount of calories before hibernation.
While both Romaine lettuce and Iceberg lettuce are good for hedgehogs and non-toxic, they fill up their stomachs easily and shouldn’t be served as a main dish. Instead, serve it on the side to their regular food. Lettuce is almost only water, and a too high amount of lettuce would cause diarrhea.
Can hedgehogs eat mushrooms?
It has been a debate regarding if hedgehogs eat mushrooms in the wild or not. However, from what I’ve gathered the mushrooms safe for humans are also safe for hedgehogs. Hedgehogs do prefer other feed like slugs, snails, insects much more. But yes, hedgehogs can eat the same mushrooms as humans.
Can hedgehogs eat onions?
Hedgehogs do not eat onions. Onions are toxic to hedgehogs and shouldn’t be fed to them. If you have cooked something using onion, you should not offer it to your hedgehog—the same thing with onion powder.
Can hedgehogs eat peppers?
Hedgehogs love to eat peppers in all colors and shapes. Green, red, yellow – they don’t mind. You will need to remove the seeds inside and the hat. It’s also important you cut the peppers into tiny pieces before serving. Try to cut them to the size of a pinky fingernail. It would help the hedgehog to eat it and digest it.
Can hedgehogs eat potatoes?
Hedgehogs shouldn’t eat potatoes due to the high amount of starch in potatoes. While starch is excellent for humans, the enzymes in the hedgehog’s digestive system are not made to break down starches ours.
Can hedgehogs eat pumpkin?
You should not feed hedgehogs pumpkins. Hedgehogs happily eat it and like it, but it isn’t good for them. Pumpkins work as a laxative and may cause dehydration. If you have Halloween leftovers, freeze it and make an awesome pumpkin stew for the winter instead.
Can hedgehogs eat quinoa?
I can’t find any evidence on why you shouldn’t feed quinoa to your hedgehog from what I’ve gathered. Quinoa is a great source of Calcium which is important for hedgehogs. Go ahead and feed your hedgehog some quinoa.
Can hedgehogs eat raw broccoli?
Hedgehogs can eat raw broccoli. Although, it’s important you serve it in small pieces. Raw broccoli usually is very hard, even for humans to chew. Run the broccoli in a mixer so it resembles sawdust before serving. Serving raw broccoli in too large bites is a high choking hazard.
Can hedgehogs eat raw cabbage?
Hedgehogs can eat raw cabbage. Cabbage provides healthy nutrients which benefit the hedgehogs in many ways. Although, it’s essential to chop the raw cabbage into tiny pieces if you plan on serving it. Raw cabbage is quite stiff and is a choking hazard for your hedgehog unless you cut it into small pieces. It would be perfect if you used a mixer, so they are almost a crumble. You can serve the cabbage cooked as well but still would need to cut it into smaller pieces.
Can hedgehogs eat raw carrots?
You should not feed hedgehogs raw carrots. Or even cooked. Carrots contain a lot of starch. The enzymes in the hedgehog’s digestive system are not made to break down starch as well as our digestive system. While carrots provide a lot of nutrients, the hedgehogs can’t eat them.
Can hedgehogs eat raw grapes?
You should never feed hedgehogs grapes. Grapes are highly toxic to hedgehogs and extremely fatal. Grapes are dangerous in tiny amounts.
Can hedgehogs eat red peppers?
Hedgehogs love to eat red peppers. Red peppers are safe to feed hedgehogs. Although, it’s crucial you cut the pepper into smaller pieces first. The mouth of hedgehogs are small and can’t fit too much food. Yet their throat is tiny as well, which will cause a choking hazard if you don’t serve them small pieces. Try to the pepper in pinky fingernail size pieces. It would also help if you tried to remove the skin of the pepper. The skin is usually quite hard to chew through for them.
Can hedgehogs eat Romaine lettuce?
Hedgehogs can eat Romaine lettuce. Lettuce is a great side dish for hedgehogs and provides excellent nutrition with a low amount of calories. However, you must serve the lettuce in moderation since it can cause diarrhea and fill up their stomachs without providing enough calories.
Can hedgehogs eat salad?
Hedgehogs can eat salad, but it shouldn’t be their main food. Hedgehogs are omnivores and require both meat, vegetables, and fruits. Salad provides a good mix of vitamins and minerals and is a great way to complete a meal for them. You can serve the hedgehogs some dry cat food and a salad next to it. I recommend using kale in your salad since it has a good amount of Calcium which hedgehogs sometimes lack.
Can hedgehogs eat spinach?
Hedgehogs can eat spinach. Spinach has a ton of vitamins and minerals that will benefit the hedgehog. When serving the hedgehog spinach, make sure it’s in small pieces so that they can get it in their mouths. If you give them baby spinach leaves, you can chop them 2-3 times. A chef would say you tear them instead to keep the fibers intact—your choice.
Can hedgehogs eat sweet potatoes?
Hedgehogs shouldn’t eat sweet potatoes, white potatoes or baked potatoes since it’s high in starch. While humans enzymes are made to break down the starch in food, the hedgehog’s digestive system works differently. Do not feed any potato to your hedgehog.
Can hedgehogs eat tomatoes?
Hedgehogs shouldn’t eat tomatoes. Tomatoes are acidic, which can cause stomach problems. There are better foods to serve. Some might argue tomatoes served in moderation won’t do any harm, and that might be correct. Although I wouldn’t take any risks since it can be harmful, there are plenty of harmless alternatives.
Can hedgehogs eat turnips?
Hedgehogs can eat turnips. Turnips provide them with a good amount of Vitamin C and some carbs and fiber. Turnips will boost the hedgehog with energy. If you plan on serving turnips to your hedgehogs, make sure to cut them into smaller pieces so it will be easier for them to chew and digest.
Can hedgehogs eat vegetable plants?
If you are growing vegetables in your garden and have some small vegetable plants, there is a risk they will be eaten. Hedgehogs mainly go for beetles, insects, roaches, and other pests in your garden. However, if the food supply of insects is scarce, they might want to eat the vegetables you have planted.
Can hedgehogs eat vegetables?
Hedgehogs can eat most vegetables. There are some which aren’t suited for them. For example Celery, tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, onions, and garlic. Hedgehogs prefer live feed more, and vegetables shouldn’t be everything they eat. A good mix of animal sources and vegetables is a good mix for hedgehogs.
Can hedgehogs eat vegetarian?
Hedgehogs can eat a vegetarian diet, but that would be considered animal abuse. Hedgehogs need meat in their diet since their digestive system isn’t made to break down starch like ours are. Hedgehogs thrive on slugs, snails, beetles, cockroaches, aphids, and other delicious animals found in the garden.
Can hedgehogs eat veggies?
Veggies are good for hedgehogs, and they should eat some. Some veggies are not suitable for them, though, which can cause stomach problems and, in some time, even be lethal. It would be best if you feed your hedgehog a variety of food, including other animals and veggies. You can feed your hedgehog veggies like kale, spinach, beans, zucchini, cucumber, peppers, and many more. You shouldn’t feed the hedgehog vegetables like celery, tomatoes, any type of potato, carrots, onion, or garlic.
Can hedgehogs eat yellow peppers?
Hedgehogs love to eat yellow peppers. In fact, they enjoy all peppers. Both green and red as well. Make sure to remove the seeds inside and the top of the pepper. It’s also important to serve it in tiny pieces so it fits in the hedgehog’s mouth. To be extra kind to the hedgehog, you can remove the skin since it otherwise requires some strength to pierce.
Can hedgehogs eat zucchini?
Hedgehogs can eat zucchini, and it’s very nutritious for them. However, you must cut it into tiny pieces before serving. Hedgehogs have small mouths, which require them to have small bites of everything. It helps them tremendously if you chop the zucchini as tiny as you can. The hedgehogs in my garden enjoy small zucchini noodles. I peel off the skin, then cut the zucchini into three pieces. Then grate it sideways to make noodles. It’s easy for them to eat and make a good snack.